Method and apparatus for solvent extraction of oleoresin from organic concentrates



July 28, 1 959 E. E. TODD METHOD AND APPARATUS F OR SOLVENT EXTRACTION .oF OLEORESIN- FROM ORGANIC CONCENTRATES Filed Aug. 9, 1957 :04 VE/YT fP/C f: TODD 5 m W W m a 2,897,185 Patented July 28, 1959 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SOLVENT EX- TRACTION OF OLEORESIN FROM ORGANIC CONCENTRATES Eric E. Todd, Malibu, Calif.

Application August 9, 1957, Serial No. 677,284

5 Claims. (Cl. 260-109) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for solvent extraction of oleoresin from organic concentrates and more particularly to a method and apparatus where by by use of a solvent such as acetone, oleoresin can be semi-continuously extracted from such dried concentrates as pimiento peppers and the like. The usual method of extracting such products is in a closed tank employing simple percolation of the solvent. This involves a frequent loss of large amounts of solvent which is an economic loss and involves serious hazards of fire and health. When full recovery of the solvent is attempted, using conventional methods, special and expensive distillation equipment is required.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and complete solvent recovery coupled with maximum use of the solvent to give exhaustion of the extracted material.

It is another object of this invention to provide minimum use of solvent combined with substantial complete recovery thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for the solvent extraction of oleoresins from dried concentrated organic materials in which extraction and solvent recovery occur simultaneously and in the same direction.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a method and apparatus in which the extraction and recovery process is applied from the top down.

These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the annexed specification in which:

Figure 1 is a side view with parts broken away for clarity of illustration of an extraction tube embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top view thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus there illustrated comprises a cylindrical tube which may be of varying dimensions but which in practice takes the form of a 12 foot tube of 14 inch diameter. The tube 10 is pivotally supported by a pair of tnunnions 11 mounted in bearings 12 carried by brackets 13 welded to posts 14. The tube 10 at its upper end is provided with a flange 15, gasket 16, lid 17 which is pivoted as at 18 and held in fluid-tight sealing relation to the flange by a clamp 19. The lid 17 may carry a gauge 20 and safety valve 21. The bottom of the tube 10 is provided with a lid 22 which is identical to the lid 17 with the exception that a drain cock 23 is carried thereby. Adjacent but spaced from the bottom of the tube 10 by a tripod 24 is a glass wool filter 25. A drain 26 controlled by a valve 27 drains the tube 10 to a pump 28 and thence to a condenser (not shown) and storage. A steam line 30 is attached to the tube 10 adjacent the top thereof, is controlled by a valve 31 and leads to a pump 32 connected alternately to a source of steam Or compressed air. A solvent line 33 is likewise connected to the tube 10 adjacent the top thereof, is controlled by a valve 34 and is connected to a pump 35 I l l i y i 1 2 C nlSCO 6c oasuppyo soven sue as acetone.

In use of the above-described apparatus, the tube 10 i is filled at the top by opening the lid 17 and filling the transport the material and blow it into the tube.

tube either manually or by means of a cyclone system to The preferred material is a concentrated pimiento pepper. For ease in filling the tube 10, it may be pivoted about the trunnions 11. When the tube 10 has been filled with concentrate, the lid is closed, and solvent such as acetone is pumped into the top, preferably intermittently over a period of approximately 10 minutes. In using a tube of the dimensions given, approximately 70 gallons of acetone will be charged to the tube.

After a few minutes, there will appear at the base of the tube solvent containing extracted oleoresin. This will be removed through the drain 26, valve 27 and pump 28 by pumping to extract approximately of the solvent. When approximately 50% of the solvent has been removed by pumping, solvent thus extracted by percolation ceases and thereafter the valve 31 is opened to apply steam at approximately 15 pounds pressure at the top of the tube. This pressure is maintained until hot solvent is being discharged through the drain 26. When this begins, steam pressure is released and air pressure at from 5 to 10 pounds is applied. The air pressure forces the upper vaporized solvent down the tube, partially condensing and sweeping out the last traces of extractables, the hot vapors and the hot solvent providing a maximum condition for extraction. Air pressure is maintained until all solvent has been expelled. While the recovery process is then complete, the apparatus is then prepared for reuse by relieving the air pressure, opening the bottom lid 22 to remove the tripod 24 and filter 25, and air pressure then is reapplied to the top of the tube to expel the exhausted charge. The tube 10 may again be pivoted about the trunnions 17 to expel the exhausted charge directly onto a belt or into a receiver.

It has been found that by the use of the above-described method and apparatus, a very high recovery (actually 98%) of the solvent can be obtained with a full extraction of the oleoresins from the dried concentrate with an extraction cycle of under 45 minutes.

While there has been described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various changes and alterations may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and alterations as come within the true scope and spirit of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. The method of solvent extraction of oleoresin from organic oleoresin-containing concentrates comprising charging a cylindrical vessel with said concentrates; filling said vessel with a solvent for oleoresin from the top down; pumping a portion of said solvent from the bottom of said vessel; introducing steam into the top of said vessel; and applying air under pressure to the top of said vessel to expel downwardly all hot vapors and solvent.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 in which said steam is at substantially 15 pounds per square inch pressure.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 in which said air is at substantially 5 to 10 pounds per square inch pressure.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 in which said steam is at substantially 15 pounds per square inch pressure and said air is at substantially 5 to 10 pounds per square inch pressure.

3 v 4 5. The method of solvent extraction of oleoresin from References Cited in the file of this patent organic oleoresin-containing concentrates comprising UNITED STATES PATENTS charging a cylindrical vessel with said concentrates; filling said vessel with a solvent for oleoresin from the top 125300 Hutchinson 1872 down; pumping a portion ofsaid solvent from the bot- 5 gs i z g LOUI of said vessel, lntroduclng steam mto the top of said 2,285,628 Traylor g"; M June 9, 1942 vessel; applying air tinder pressure tothe top of said ves sel to expel downwardly all hot vapors and solvent; and opening said vessel and again applying air under pressure to expel the oleoresin depleted concentrates. 10 

1. THE METHOD OF SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF OLEORESIN FROM ORGANIC OLEORESIN-CONTAINING CONCENTRATES COMPRISING CHARGING A CYLINDRICAL VESSEL WITH SAID CONCENTRATES; FILLING SAID VESSEL WITH A SOLVENT FOR OLEORESIN FROM THE TOP DOWN; PUMPING A PORTION OF SAID SOLVENT FORM THE BOTTOM OF SAID VESSEL; INTRODUCING STEAM INTO THE TOP OF SAID VESSEL; AND APPLYING AIR UNDER PRESSURE TO THE TOP OF SAID VESSEL TO EXPEL DOWNWARDLY ALL HOT VAPORS AND SOLVENT. 